Soju Alcohol Percentage and Guide: Korea’s Most Popular Spirit

What is the alcohol percentage of soju?

The most common green-bottle soju sold in Australia is around 16 to 17 per cent ABV, which is roughly in between wine and whisky. Flavoured soju is often lower, typically 12 to 14 per cent. Traditional and premium soju can reach 25 per cent and above, and some regional styles such as Andong soju are far stronger.

So is soju strong? It tastes mild and goes down easily, which can make it deceptively strong. Always check the label for ABV, and count standard drinks rather than glasses.

How many standard drinks are in a bottle of soju?

An Australian standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. A typical 360 mL bottle of soju at 17 per cent ABV contains about 4.8 standard drinks. At 16 per cent it is about 4.5, and at 13 per cent about 3.7.

Soju is often shared, but if you are drinking alone it is worth remembering the number. The Australian guidelines recommend no more than four standard drinks on any day, and no more than ten in a week.

What is soju made from?

Traditional soju is distilled from rice and is similar to a light vodka or shochu. Since the mid-20th century, much soju has been made from other starches such as sweet potato, tapioca and wheat, which are diluted and sweetened to a lower strength.

Premium soju made in a pot still from rice alone, such as the Ilpoom Jinro 1924 Heritage Premium Soju, has a fuller, grainier flavour closer to a sipping spirit.

What are the main soju brands?

Jinro, founded in 1924, is the world’s best-selling soju brand and is known for its clean, slightly sweet green-bottle soju. Chum Churum is another leading brand and comes in plain and fruit flavours. Charm Malgeun and other brands add lychee, grape, peach, mango and blueberry.

You can browse the range in our soju collection, including Chum Churum Apple Mango.

Explore: Shop soju

What do flavoured sojus taste like?

Flavoured soju is sweeter and lighter, with the fruit tasting like a candy or soft drink. Lychee, grape and peach are the most popular. It is easy to drink on its own, with ice, or mixed with soda or yogurt drinks.

Try Charm Malgeun Mango Soju or Blueberry if you like fruity drinks.

How do you drink soju?

Soju is typically served chilled and sipped from small glasses, often as a shot, alongside food. In Korea, drinking is social: you pour for others rather than yourself, and younger drinkers pour for elders with two hands and turn away slightly when drinking.

Popular pairings include Korean barbecue, fried chicken and spicy stews. You can also make cocktails such as a soju spritz or the beer and soju mix known as somaek.

What does soju cost, and how should you choose?

Standard green-bottle soju is inexpensive. Flavoured and premium bottles cost more, with premium pot-still soju priced like a good spirit. Choose based on how you plan to drink it: plain soju for food, flavoured for casual drinks and premium for sipping.

To explore other Asian spirits, read our guide to Chinese baijiu. Buyers must be 18 or over.

What is the difference between soju, sake and shochu?

Sake is a Japanese rice wine, brewed rather than distilled and usually around 15 per cent ABV. Shochu is a Japanese distilled spirit made from ingredients such as sweet potato, barley or rice. Soju is a Korean spirit, traditionally distilled from rice, and today most commonly a diluted, sweetened spirit.

Soju tends to be cleaner and sweeter than shochu and has a lower strength than most spirits. If you enjoy one, you may enjoy the others in different ways.

What food goes with soju?

Soju is designed for food. Pair it with Korean barbecue, fried chicken, spicy stews, kimchi pancakes and seafood. Its clean, slightly sweet taste refreshes the palate between bites of rich or spicy food. Fruit-flavoured soju also goes well with desserts.

Chill the bottle, pour small glasses and share with friends. In Korea, anju (food eaten with drinks) is an important part of the experience.

How do you make soju cocktails?

Somaek is soju mixed into beer, usually in a small shot glass dropped into a pint or poured into a glass of lager. A soju spritz combines soju, soda water and a splash of juice or a slice of citrus. Flavoured soju works with lemonade, yogurt drinks and tonic.

Keep the mix simple and use cold ingredients. For more Asian spirits, read about Chinese baijiu. Remember that soju is easy to drink, so check the standard-drink count.

How should you store and open soju?

Unopened soju can be stored at room temperature in a cool, dark place, but it tastes best chilled. Refrigerate or freeze the bottle for an hour before serving. Once opened, keep it sealed and in the fridge, and finish it within a few weeks, since flavoured soju in particular can lose freshness.

In Korea, the traditional way to open a bottle is to give it a firm flick or shake to create a small whirlpool and then twist the cap. It is a fun ritual to share.

What is the history of soju?

Soju has been made in Korea for centuries, with distillation techniques thought to have arrived in the 13th century. A government ban on using rice for alcohol in the 1960s, caused by food shortages, pushed producers towards diluted spirits made from other starches, which is why modern green-bottle soju tastes different from traditional versions.

In recent years there has been a revival of traditional rice soju, and premium bottles are made with the same care as other craft spirits. If you want to taste the older style, look for pot-still rice soju, such as Ilpoom Jinro 1924.